Seona Dancing (/ˈʃɔːnə/, SHAW-nə) were a 1980s British new wave group, best known for providing comedian Ricky Gervais with his first experiences as a public performer. Although the band experienced little chart success, their single "More to Lose" went on to become a teen anthem in the Philippines.[1]
While studying at University College London, Ricky Gervais and his friend Bill Macrae formed Seona Dancing, with Macrae writing the music and playing keyboards, and Gervais writing and singing the lyrics. After recording a sixteen-song demo tape, they were signed by London Records, which released two of their singles: "More to Lose" and "Bitter Heart". In June 1983, the duo performed their single "More to Lose" on the ITV-syndicated children's television show Razzmatazz. Yet, despite the promotion of "Bitter Heart" through its music video and "More to Lose" by its TV performance, both singles failed to break the top 40, with "More to Lose" charting at number 117 and "Bitter Heart" at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart.[2] After the lacklustre performance of their two singles, the band split up in 1984. Gervais went on to have a successful international career as a comedian and actor.
When Jimmy Kimmel asked about Macrae in a 2014 interview, Gervais answered, "I hope he got fat, too."[3]
Popularity in the Philippinesedit
In 1985, DWRT-FM (then known as 99.5 RT, now 99.5 Play FM), a radio station in Metro Manila, Philippines, started playing a song billed as "Fade" by Medium (also billed as "Medium" by Fade). DWRT-FM deliberately misnamed the artist and song title to prevent anyone from finding the record and playing it themselves. Additionally, to stop other radio stations from recording it and playing it, DWRT-FM inserted a station ID midway through the track. A year later, another radio station, DWXB-102, revealed the true identity of the song as "More to Lose" by Seona Dancing.[1]
The song, which utilises an opening piano riff to convey the sound of falling teardrops, became a major radio and club hit as well as a favourite at high-school dances during the 1980s and beyond. AllMusic critic Michael Sutton wrote that the track was "the theme song of angst-ridden New Wave youths in the Philippines" and "an '80s anthem as ubiquitous as Peter Gabriel's 'In Your Eyes', but with the eternal hipster cool of Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'."[1]
Discographyedit
1983: "More to Lose" b/w "You're on My Side" (7", 12" single) – UK No. 117
An unofficial CD compiling of all of the band's songs (apart from the 7" versions of "Bitter Heart" and "Tell Her"), titled More to Lose, was released in 2005.
^Johnny Davis, The Independent, 2005, "" – retrieved on 12 September 2009
^"Ricky Gervais: The Ultimate Joke - Papaya.Rocks". Papaya.Rocks.
^"Seona Dancing", Chart Stats, retrieved 15 January 2011
November 15, 2023
seona, dancing, ɔː, shaw, were, 1980s, british, wave, group, best, known, providing, comedian, ricky, gervais, with, first, experiences, public, performer, although, band, experienced, little, chart, success, their, single, more, lose, went, become, teen, anth. Seona Dancing ˈ ʃ ɔː n e SHAW ne were a 1980s British new wave group best known for providing comedian Ricky Gervais with his first experiences as a public performer Although the band experienced little chart success their single More to Lose went on to become a teen anthem in the Philippines 1 Seona DancingOriginLondon EnglandGenresNew wave synthpopYears active1982 1984LabelsLondon RecordsPast membersRicky GervaisBill Macrae Contents 1 History 2 Popularity in the Philippines 3 Discography 4 ReferencesHistory editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message While studying at University College London Ricky Gervais and his friend Bill Macrae formed Seona Dancing with Macrae writing the music and playing keyboards and Gervais writing and singing the lyrics After recording a sixteen song demo tape they were signed by London Records which released two of their singles More to Lose and Bitter Heart In June 1983 the duo performed their single More to Lose on the ITV syndicated children s television show Razzmatazz Yet despite the promotion of Bitter Heart through its music video and More to Lose by its TV performance both singles failed to break the top 40 with More to Lose charting at number 117 and Bitter Heart at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart 2 After the lacklustre performance of their two singles the band split up in 1984 Gervais went on to have a successful international career as a comedian and actor When Jimmy Kimmel asked about Macrae in a 2014 interview Gervais answered I hope he got fat too 3 Popularity in the Philippines editIn 1985 DWRT FM then known as 99 5 RT now 99 5 Play FM a radio station in Metro Manila Philippines started playing a song billed as Fade by Medium also billed as Medium by Fade DWRT FM deliberately misnamed the artist and song title to prevent anyone from finding the record and playing it themselves Additionally to stop other radio stations from recording it and playing it DWRT FM inserted a station ID midway through the track A year later another radio station DWXB 102 revealed the true identity of the song as More to Lose by Seona Dancing 1 The song which utilises an opening piano riff to convey the sound of falling teardrops became a major radio and club hit as well as a favourite at high school dances during the 1980s and beyond AllMusic critic Michael Sutton wrote that the track was the theme song of angst ridden New Wave youths in the Philippines and an 80s anthem as ubiquitous as Peter Gabriel s In Your Eyes but with the eternal hipster cool of Joy Division s Love Will Tear Us Apart 1 Discography edit1983 More to Lose b w You re on My Side 7 12 single UK No 117 1983 Bitter Heart b w Tell Her 7 12 UK No 79 4 An unofficial CD compiling of all of the band s songs apart from the 7 versions of Bitter Heart and Tell Her titled More to Lose was released in 2005 References edit a b c Michael Sutton Seona Dancing Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved 21 April 2016 Johnny Davis The Independent 2005 Ricky Gervais My life as a superstar retrieved on 12 September 2009 Ricky Gervais The Ultimate Joke Papaya Rocks Papaya Rocks Seona Dancing Chart Stats retrieved 15 January 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seona Dancing amp oldid 1145424905, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
